by Mike Melendez | Aug 16, 2017 | Weekly Player Profile
Nancy McKeon by Dave Siegel
Staten Island has a secret it has hidden from the paddleball world for decades. It’s Nancy McKeon. She is far and away the best woman paddleball player in Staten Island and every player on the Island knows it. We all believe she could compete successfully against any of the outstanding women players in the game today. Never heard of her? Well that’s understandable because Nancy almost never plays or competes off Staten Island.
Nancy has been playing paddleball for 37 years and presently plays 3-4 times/week at the Midland Beach courts. Her interest was originally sparked by her future husband, Kevin McKeon, who is also one of the top players on the Island. She is the stalwart player for the weekday Island group and also plays with the weekend group. Nancy is always competing against skilled men players and “holding her own” is a gross understatement. She is one of the best right-side righty players on Staten Island, bar none. Nancy rarely makes an unforced error, is a supreme defensive player and almost always hits the ball to the right spot. She makes incredible gets, has a terrific left hand and has deadly put-aways, especially killers in the left corner. Nancy thrives on the competition and plays with that never-give-up attitude, while almost never arguing and always playing fair. And how about this: She uses a wooden paddle! And she plays almost exclusively small ball.
I asked Nancy if she has ever wanted to play competitively against the top players in the city to achieve recognition. She replied that she just loves paddleball, it gets her up in the morning, keeps her in shape and she enjoys the camaraderie of the players. That’s all she needs and it’s what drives her. She says she doesn’t have any desire to make a name for herself.
What about that wooden paddle? It is really a club, very heavy, completely covered with tape and get this: She has been using the same paddle for 37 years. I don’t mean the same model, but the same piece of wood! She said she tried the modern paddles, but never could find one that gave her the hit she gets with her wooden one.
Why small ball? Big ball is reputed to be the better choice for women because it’s a softer game. The answer is obvious: Small ball is the only ball that is played on the Island. She has played big ball at Garfield Park in Florida a few times and fared well. Her prowess at small ball is a further testimonial to her skill level.
Another indication of her paddleball proficiency and competitiveness is her surprising answer to my question as to whether she had ever experienced any resentment to her playing in “mens” games. She said she never had, not even way back decades ago when women were not as well accepted in men’s sports as they are today.
So there you have it. Staten Island’s Nancy McKeon. Unfortunately if you want to see her in action, or play against her, you must make the trek over the Verrazano Bridge ($17 toll unless you have EZ Pass!) But it will be well worth it!
by Mike Melendez | Jul 31, 2017 | Weekly Player Profile
Eddie Montañez By Dave Siegel
I guarantee that you will not find another person in the world of paddleball like Eddie Montañez. Eddie is a very talented player with amazing skills who plays the game strictly to have fun and truly does not care if he wins or loses. He is a hard hitter, fast and accurate, with terrific kill shots. But his favorite shots are his ultra-sharp cuts, which he can curve left, right and straight up and down. He also has perfected behind-the-back and through-the-legs shots. He will use these “trick” shots at any time during a rally, earning him the well deserved nickname “Sideshow.”
He started playing the game 38 years ago when he spotted his future wife, Dixie, playing paddleball in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. He decided that the best way to meet her was to play in her game. It worked! He has been playing ever since, mostly twice a week, the past 13 years in Midland Beach, Staten Island.
The sports story of Eddie Montañez goes well beyond paddleball. He a great athlete and a renowned softball player. During the summer, he plays every week in the Bensonhurst Park Softball League, pitching and playing the infield. He has won multiple MVP’s, Cy Young awards, hit hundreds of homers and was inducted into the league’s Hall of Fame!
But the most outstanding part of Eddie’s life does not involve sports. He is a hero! Eddie and his family live along the beachfront in Staten Island, which was one of the hardest hit areas by Hurricane Sandy. During and after the storm, though his house was partially submerged, Eddie risked his life, along with his son Eddie, to save the lives of two trapped elderly neighbors along with their two dogs. He did this while bleeding because one of the pooches bit him! He also rescued two more people from their marooned van and lodged them in his house for several days. We are all proud of him for his bravery and caring!
But back to paddleball. I’m sure many of you were shuddering as you read about Eddie’s trick shot game, because you are competitive and want to play at 100% at all times. But who is to say that Eddie’s approach to the game is not the best one? His advice to all players: “Paddleball is a wonderful sport. Don’t take it so seriously. Have fun playing and you’ll love the game!”
by Mike Melendez | Jul 17, 2017 | Weekly Player Profile
Tony Cascella By Dave Siegel
By now, most of you know the miraculous, heroic story of Tony Cascella, the focus of the “Welcome Back Tony” tournament held last September at Staten Island. In January, 2016 he was stricken with sudden cardiac arrest while playing paddleball in Clifton, NJ. His life was over. But Keith Jackson, Mitch Goldberg and Mitch Resnick wouldn’t allow it to happen. They brought him back using their CPR skills, assisted by a defibrillator. Today Tony is in good health, once again playing the game he loves at a high level.
Tony’s real life and paddleball career may not be as well known. He is a native Staten Islander and a retired NYPD detective. Inspired by his brother Michael, he started playing back in 1981 at Staten Island’s Egbert I.S. playground. He has played many sports, but paddleball is his first love and he has become a lifer. Tony’s athletic ability and determination have enabled him to become one of the top players in Staten Island. He is a right handed player with a deadly left who is one of the best right side righties in the game, possessing terrific angle kill shots with either hand. When teamed with a lefty, Tony is an outstanding left side player as well. He is also an excellent paddleball referee, always willing to help in tournaments.
Tony’s advice to other players is to “Play Hard, Play Fair and remember, it’s only a game!” This is exactly what we would expect from Tony, because he has always been a tough and fair competitor, while respecting his partner and opponents. It has served him well, earning him widespread admiration. Tony is also a big proponent of the PFA and the work it has done to assimilate the paddleball community and encourage the resurgence of the youth in the game.
Tony would like to thank the whole paddleball community for the countless well-wishes and support during and after his illness, with a very special thank-you to Keith, Mitch and Mitch, the heroes who saved his life. The paddleball community thanks them too! Welcome Back Tony!
by Mike Melendez | Jul 9, 2017 | Weekly Player Profile
Jay Brown
Jay reminds me more of a power forward basketball player instead of a paddleball player. He is a hard hitting right handed paddleball player from the Bronx with a ton of potential to become one of the sport’s elite player. He started playing the game back in the 80s but really has been playing consistently the past 2 years. He started playing the game at the courts on P.S 86 on Riverside Drive in Manhattan and Central Park at the age of about 15 years old. He then took his game in search of tougher competition to St. James park in the Bronx.
*
His Mom & Dad are his favorite players, “Just watching the enjoyment of the competitiveness between them two” inspired him to compete at a high level in sports. He loves the game of paddleball, likes the hustle , the atmosphere, the different type of style of people’s games. He said the competition of the game is what attracted him to the sport, “Competition just love it..”. He has won a few tournaments the past two years including the PFA 1st Winter Open Restricted Doubles with Joey Vega. He also qualified to the PFA 1st Summer Doubles Invitational Classic at Orchard Beach.
*
He said “Sportsmanship goes a long way with me..” and feels is one of the things that will help grow the sport and make it more enjoyable to play. His advice to his paddleball peers? “they probably already know this “HAVE FUN”!!” He thinks the game is in good shape but reminds everyone to ” Just be fare”.
*
He concluded the interview with..
“WHO GOT NEXT?.. that’s all..I’m coming!!!”
*
You are definitely coming Jay, stay focused and keep working hard. You Got Next!
by Mike Melendez | Jul 3, 2017 | Weekly Player Profile
Mathew, “The Sniper”, is a powerful right handed player in his late 20s. He is a quite Paddleball gentleman of few words on the courts. But do not let his on court quite demeanor fool you, on the court he is a hungry lion constantly stalking his prey. You must keep him on the defense, cause setting his right hand up while you are in front could be dangerous to your health!
He started playing paddleball regularly around the age of 17 at Van Cortland park, which is still his home park, about 13 years ago. His father inspired him to start playing paddleball. He plays one to two times a week year round, Zerega Indoor is his home court during the winter season. Of the many shots in the game his favorite is between a heavy topspin drop shot and a lob with heavy under-spin. He does not have a particular favorite player but his top 5, in no specific order, are: Hoppy, Eddie (Flaco), Sostre, Nelson, and Richie Miller
His view about the sport of paddleball?. “I think it’s a great sport. It’s fun, addictive, physically and mentally rigorous, and most of all if I haven’t mentioned, it’s fun lol”.
I asked him what he thinks is needed to take the sport to the next level? ” There are outdoor one wall courts all over New York City. In order to help the sport thrive, I think it’s necessary to travel to different parks to allow others both inside and outside the park to see the game of paddleball in action, especially parks where one wall courts aren’t being utilized “
His advice to his paddleball peers is ” to keep playing, never quit”. He believes there is nothing that need to be changed about the sport of paddleball at this time.
Congratulation Matt! Continue supporting the sport we all love and keep giving paddleball PowPow!
by Mike Melendez | Jun 24, 2017 | Weekly Player Profile
Brian Newson Weekly Player profile(6/25/17)
Brian is a left handed player that has been playing paddleball off and on since the late 70’s. He is a very humble and liked by the paddleball community. He has been working with NYC for the past 32 years. He also has been a volunteer for the past 6 years with NYC Office of Emergency Management Community Emergency Response Team(CERT). Like many of his paddleball peers he picked up the game quickly because he transitioned from handball to paddleball. He started playing paddleball on 134th Street at St. Nicholas Park in Manhattan. He then took his game to 135th street by Harlem Hospital in search of tougher competition. As his game improved he once again moved on to Lenox Avenue and 113th street in search of tougher competition. Currently his home outdoor park is Sayers and Juniper park and Zerega in the winter. He normally plays twice a week, Saturday & Sunday. In the summer he travels with his friends and fellow paddleball players Alex Cherry and Marian Quinn around the Tri-State area in search of tough competition and meet new friends. His favorite paddleball shot is the spike. He does not have a favorite player. However, he does watch and pay attention to a lot of players/games to learn and possibly incorporate a shot or a particular strategy. He loves paddleball, he said “it’s a great way to keep active, better your health (my doctor is always surprised at my heart rate) and you meet great people when you travel to different parks.”
I asked him what he thinks is needed to grow the sport? His response, “It’s great that the Paddle Family Alliance is actively engaging kids, you may want to reach out and convert current handball players”. His advice to his paddleball peers is “Just to have fun, respect each other and the calls that are being made and let your play decide the game”. He believes there is “Nothing to change about a sport that is great to play with other players who are inclusive of others no matter the skill level.”
CONGRATULATION Brian
Recent Comments